On the verge of playing his 100th Test, Joe Root is back to where it all began, and the beginning -- his maiden outing in England's white flannels -- remains his life's "proudest moment". It's an occasion from where he continues to draw positive vibes in crisis situations. Root, who made his debut in the fourth Test against India in Nagpur during the 2012 series, is back to lead his team in a four-match rubber against the same opponents, as one of modern day greats.

"I think walking out for the first time in England shirt probably (has) been the proudest moment," Root said on Thursday. The series starts here on Friday. Root recalled that, during his first series, playing alongside former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, whom he watched as a teenager, was a "dream come true moment" for him. "I look back on walking out to bat and seeing Kevin Pietersen still at other end, someone who I watched as a teenager and as a kid growing up and I just couldn't stop smiling as I was living my childhood dream."